Few players in any sport have been able to combine such an obnoxious degree of selfishness, ego, and hubris as Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees. The man who grew artificially, only to perpetually shrink in the clutch of the playoffs, does not yet believe that he is done.
But as he approaches the age of 40, and having missed last season due to a suspension, he now must fight with Chase Headley and Garrett Jones for playing time on a team that, in actuality, does not even want him. The karma and price of cheating the game is now being paid by the ultimate baseball pariah.
Much to Overcome
Rodriguez has not been a regular for two seasons, and has gone through surgery on both of his hips. And now that he has been exposed as a steroid cheat, he must now try his comeback without performance enhancing drugs. A clean Rodriguez at age 40 is a long shot for any sustainable success. In his last season of play in 2013, Rodriguez hit just seven home runs in 181 plate appearances. A-Rod was overmatched by the top fastball pitchers in the game. Beyond the challenge of having to launch his comeback as a clean player, Rodriguez must overcome the loathing of him by Yankees executives and players, not to mention his teammates that want nothing to do with him.
Headley’s Job to Lose
Headley is a switch hitter with a much better glove than Rodriguez. He has the opposite image and nature of Rodriguez in that he is well liked and positive. With Yankees leadership wanting Headley in the lineup, it would take the combination of luck and a performance that Rodriguez is not likely capable of anymore to wrest the job away.
Back Fresh?
The one theory in Rodriguez’s favor is the possibility that he will return fresh after taking a year off to heal his wounds, both physical and mental. Perhaps he can be a serviceable 40-year-old player but the dirty numbers of his past are nowhere near a possibility to return.
New Diminished Role
Rodriguez will have to accept what he is now and do his best to fill the team role that is his only chance for at least a partial redemption. The days of the Yankees placating his superstar ego are clearly over. A-Rod can shut up and play part time with a smile or he can face the possibility of being banished by a team that doesn’t even want him in the first place.
It is not just gut check time for Rodriguez. It’s also time to check his ego.
